Corey looks to make late bid for comptroller
BY MATT TRACY
GAY CITY NEWS
City Council Speaker Corey Johnson
is considering a run for city
comptroller nearly six months after
abruptly cancelling his bid for mayor, he
told The New York Times.
Johnson, who in the midst of his second
and fi nal term in the City Council, is
exploring a run to serve as the city’s chief
fi nancial offi cer nearly fi ve months after
heexited the mayoral racedue to personal
reasons. He is vowing to make a fi nal decision
on the comptroller race within the next
two weeks.
Johnson said several elected offi cials —
including city lawmakers — told him to
look into a run for comptroller, according
to the Times. Johnson represents the City
Council’s District Three in Manhattan,
which includes Chelsea, Hell’s Kitchen,
Greenwich Village, West SoHo, Hudson
Square, Times Square, Garment District,
Flatiron, and the Upper West Side.
City Comptroller Scott Stringer, a mayoral
candidate, is term-limited and running
for mayor, paving the way for a wide-open
race to replace him.
Other candidates in the race for comptroller
include Councilmember Brad
Lander of Brooklyn, State Senators Kevin
Parker of Brooklyn and Brian Benjamin of
Manhattan, State Assemblymember David
Weprin of Queens, and Michelle Caruso-
Cabrera — who mounted an unsuccessful
primary challenge against Bronx and
Queens Representative Alexandria Ocasio-
Cortez last year.
“I wouldn’t be considering this if I didn’t
Speaker Corey Johnson is out of the mix for mayor, but has more than a year
left in his term and vows to remain active in public life.
Send words of inspiration for
#WarmHeartsNYC campaign
New Yorkers are hoping to #warmheartsNYC
as part of the Chinatown
BID’s words of inspiration
campaign. Here are a few examples of what
feel good about where I am personally and
the work I’ve done over the last six months
in focusing on myself and my own wellbeing,”
Johnson told the Times.
The Democratic primary for comptroller
is on June 22, leaving Johnson with a fourmonth
window to make a citywide pitch
for his candidacy. Johnson still has a war
chest consisting of $585,132, according to
the Campaign Finance Board, following
an exploratory bid for mayor during which
he committed to limiting contributions to
$250 per person and sought to avoid donations
from lobbyists, corporate PACs, or
real estate developers and their employees.
“I haven’t made a fi nal decision yet — I
have to continue to talk to my family, but I
am considering it because I love this city,”
Johnson told the Times. “I think the next
has been submitted so far:
– “We have faced great hardships lately.
However, our strength and love persist. It
will only grow and expand if you continue
PHOTO BY DONNA ACETO
comptroller needs to be someone who will
ensure that our recovery is one where we
are making sure that all the money we’re
spending is spent appropriately, and I feel
like I’ve done that as speaker.”
The 38-year-old speaker took criticism
last year when the City Council passed a
budget that failed to meet the expectations
of activists who sought a signifi cant reduction
in police funding. He will again face
a test this year when he oversees a City
Council budget for the fi nal time as speaker.
Johnson, the fi rst out gay man to serve as
speaker, spearheaded legislation allowing
New Yorkers to change the gender marker
on their birth certifi cates and has stood in
support of several queer initiatives.
This article fi rst appeared on our sister
publication, Gay City News.
to have faith and share kindness.”
– “Hang in there guys! Be strong – Have
faith – all NYC supports your uniqueness
and diversity and are praying for your
comeback in the near future.”
– “The best is yet to come!!! You can do
it!!!! We can help.” – “You are LOVED,
You are STRONG, You are IMPORTANT,
You are RESILIENT. Keep your head up
and your heart open! We are all in this
together, and we will get through this
together.”
– “Hang in there! There is a light at the
end of the tunnel. You are essential to the
vital color and fabric of NYC!”
You can submit your own words of
inspiration by visiting amny.com/warmheartsnyc.
The contest is open to all ages
and the deadline to submit is March 4.
Those who participate are entered into
sweepstakes with a chance to win a $100
dollar gift card. Winning messages will
be announced on March 25. #warmheartsNYC
#haveyoueatenyet
Levine silent,
but still leads
big in Manhattan
borough president
fund-raising race
BY MICHAEL ROCK
The New York City Campaign Finance
Board has released further
matching funds to candidates in
races citywide this year, including that for
Manhattan Borough President.
With $1,116,087 approved, Councilmember
Mark Levine leads in the race in
funding by a country mile, yet he declined
to comment on his recent fortune.
Councilmeber Ben Kallos has come out
in second with $393,794 and credited his
grassroots donor base for driving his support.
“Talking to New Yorkers every day I
can hear our campaign is resonating with
people–working people, not millionaires or
the real estate lobby,” said Kallos.
City Councilman Mark Levine
“Working people from every part of Manhattan
are the ones funding this race thanks
to the campaign fi nance laws I helped put
into place. So far we are very happy with
where we are on receiving matching funds
payments and confi dent we will be where
we want to be very soon,” he added.
At $303,358, Elizabeth Caputo came in
third, while former Deputy Secretary of
Economic Development for New York State
Lindsey Boylan came trailed at $259,783.
“In just the few short months since we
started our campaign for borough president,
we saw a surge of grassroots contributors
across Manhattan who share our excitement
for the most progressive policy platform in
this election. It’s invigorating to have hit this
milestone in less than half the time as any
other candidate in this race, and to see our
supporters lifted up by the City’s incredible
matching funds program,” said Boylan.
“I’m so proud of the momentum we’ve
built together in this race, from receiving the
Grand Street Dems endorsement last week
to hearing from grassroots supporters every
day from across Manhattan. Today’s development
enables us to keep amplifying our
message and connect with even more voters
on our path to victory in June,” she added.
PHOTO BY DEAN MOSES
Wellington Z. Chen gestures to the word “peace” on the Chinatown Kiosk.
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